Sochi Olympics: recent bomb attacks heighten fears for organisers

Euronews

One of the overriding concerns in the build up to and during the Winter Olympics is security.

Islamist militants have threatened attacks during the Games in Sochi, which lies on the western edge of the mainly Muslim North Caucasus.

Two suicide attacks late last year rocked the southern Russian city of Volgograd some 400 miles from Sochi.

The recent wave of terrorist attacks has claimed the lives of over 30 people and has also heightened fears of Olympic organizers.

President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach said: “We have to address this (the security threats) because, anything else, the alternative would be to surrender to terrorists and this is, I think, the last thing we all want to do. Every organiser needs to make sure that the Games are as safe and secure as possible.”

Some 5 500 new surveillance cameras have been installed, 40 000 police officers and troops will patrol the area while drones, fighter jets and two Naval ships have been deployed in the Black Sea to help provide security for the masses.